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An updated systematic review of the effects of continuous labor support was published in The Cochrane Library in 2011, Issue 2.This review summarizes results of 21 randomized controlled trials that involved 15,061 women.

Overall, women who received continuous support were less likely than women who did not to:

have regional analgesia

have any analgesia/anesthesia

give birth with vacuum extraction or forceps

give birth by cesarean

have a baby with a low 5-minute Apgar score

report dissatisfaction or a negative rating of their experience.

Women receiving continuous support were more likely than those who did not to:

The reviewers drew the following conclusions about implications for practice:

Continuous support during labour should be the norm, rather than the exception. Policy makers should consider making continuous labor support a covered service, and hospitals should implement programs to offer continuous labor support.